It’s the age of Frozen, and not just because of this freezing weather we’ve been having.

If you work in the toy industry, you’re probably familiar with Disney Frozen as a powerhouse license. According to data from The NPD Group, it was the top gainer among all toy properties last year, generating $531 million in toy sales across more than 39 categories. This is well and good for the toy companies fortunate enough to have partnered up with Team Elsa. On the flip side, if recent events are any indication, not having the license for Disney Frozen has the potential to be hazardous. [Read more...]

Last Friday marked my niece Courtney’s eighth birthday, and what was she hoping for most? An iPod. Now, in my opinion, an 8-year-old doesn’t have much business with an iPod, but kids today are getting into electronics at a much younger age. Though part of Courtney’s argument for “needing” an iPod was, “everyone has one except for me,” the first thing she did when she got it was personalize it. Before even putting a song on it, she slapped a peace-sign sticker right on the back of it—10 minutes out of the box (hence why 8-year-olds probably shouldn’t have iPods). But, this was her way of making it her own.

For parents buying their children expensive devices such as smartphones, iPods, or even portable gaming devices like the Nintendo 3DS or the PS Vita, there are some awesome products on the market that will allow kids to dazzle and personalize their devices without placing a never-gonna-come-off, gooey-backed sticker on said device.

Plugy, from Hashy, is a universal 3.5mm plug that fits snuggly into all standard headphone jacks. Plugys come in more than 40 different styles, including zoo animals, robots, and glow-in-the-dark options. Plugy has something for everyone, including a rainbow, Eiffel Tower, and an apple stem, and allows kids to take their smart device to a more personal level in a not-so-permanent way. Plugys are made of rubber and will not break when inserted into the headphone jack. They even protect the device from rain, dust, and sand when earphones are not plugged in. Plugys are available on amazon.com and from Hanging Mobile Gallery. For more information on Plugys, email plugyUSA@gmail.com. [Read more...]

Sakar International and Kidz Bop have created a new line of licensed Kidz Bop karaoke gear. Kids can enjoy listening and singing along with the Kidz Bop hits. The Kidz Bop Karaoke Machine is a portable CD/CD+G and iPod/MP3 plug-and-play compatible player. The machine displays the lyrics onto any television screen.

Other items featured in the new line include the Kidz Bop Karaoke Microphone Stand, the MP3 Microphone, and the wireless MP3 Panel Speaker. The Kidz Bop Karaoke Microphone and Stand directly connect to any iPod or MP3 player and feature a built-in flashing light show. The adjustable stand and microphone come with an AUX cable and a user manual. The Kidz Bop MP3 Microphone automatically removes the vocal to any song and is complete with built-in sounds of a roaring crowd. A connecting cable is included with this item. A wireless Kidz Bop MP3 Panel Speaker featuring a flat panel design and high definition sound quality can also be purchased. The karaoke products will be available at Toys “R” Us.

Sakar International, manufacturer of tech, toy, and electronic products, partners with Activision to create a line of accessories based on the newest 16 heroes of Skylanders Giants. Skylanders Giants is the sequel to Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure video game. The new line of Skylanders Giants will feature cases for portable devices, an alarm clock radio with dock, molded ear buds and headphones, walkie-talkies, night vision goggles, and more.

As movie-goers wait with anticipation for the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy, Sakar International, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products on behalf of DC Entertainment, has announced the debut of its new line of Batman electronics and accessories to commemorate the release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises, which hits theaters and IMAX nationwide on July 20.

Kids of all ages will love being summoned to start their day with the Batman Alarm Clock Radio that projects the Bat-Signal on the wall or ceiling. Also sure to delight, the 3-in-1 Digital Camera offers still, video, and web-cam capability with three interchangeable face plates, while the Digital Video Recorder makes it quick and easy for users to film their own action scenes. The three-piece Batman Adventure Kit includes adventure necessities, such as a 35mm camera, flashlight, and binoculars. No super hero is complete without a stealthy communication device, and Sakar’s set of two Batman Walkie Talkies keep everyone in contact with push-to-talk buttons and built-in Morse code options.

Available at Toys R Us, the Batman product line features vibrant, high-resolution graphics and durable construction to withstand any high-flying super hero adventure.

This post was originally written by Sierra McCleary-Harris and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

The Collective has partnered with Sakar International for a line of electronic devices and accessories inspired by Annoying Orange, star of a new Cartoon Network series. The deal was brokered on behalf of The Collective by The Joester Loria Group,the licensing agent for the Annoying Orange brand.

The collection of Annoying Orange electronic products to be created by Sakar will include earbuds, headphones, talking camera cases, clock radios, and cases for iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touch. Items will range in price from $9.99 to $49.99 and will debut at Toys “R” Us and other retailers nationwide in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Sakar joins the first wave of partners for the Annoying Orange licensing program. A master toy deal has been reached with The Bridge Direct, Inc., for a line of talking, plush clip-ons, and collectible figures are available at specialty retailers, including Toys “R” Us. Annoying Orange apparel and accessories for young men and juniors, from Hybrid Apparel and LF USA, are now available at retail. Costumes from Rubies Costume Company will debut this fall.

This post was originally written by Sierra McCleary-Harris and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Sakar International will develop, market, and manufacture a new line of audio/video youth electronics with Kidz Bop. Merchandise will include karaoke machines, headphones, earbuds, speakers, and docking stations. Additional product will include DVRs and digital cameras tied to the Kidz Bop music series, which features today’s most popular songs, sung by kids for kids. Initial product is expected to hit shelves in the U.S. and Canada during the fourth quarter of this year.

On July 17, Kidz Bop will release Kidz Bop 22, the latest installment of the audio series. Kidz Bop will also launch its annual Kidz Star USA Talent Search, a national talent competition for kids 15 and under, which is hosted on KidzBop.com.

This post was originally written by Sierra McCleary-Harris and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Sakar International is developing an Iron Man 2-branded line of spy gear, inspired by the upcoming movie release. The products are being developed under a license agreement with Marvel Entertainment. Expected to feature over a dozen SKUs, the product line will include spy watches, walkie talkie/voice changers, digital and video cameras, nightvision goggles, blacklight decoders, micro-listening devices, and video game accessories. Release dates will coincide with the movie’s slated opening on May 7.

New Products

Marvel’s Ant-Man is still going strong in theaters, and so is Disney Consumer Products’ (DCP) and Marvel‘s Ant-Man product collection. The lineup includes costumes, construction sets, action figures, and more from licensees such as Hasbro, LEGO, Funko, Hot Wheels, Rubie’s Costume Co., and Uncle Milton.

Skechers USA Inc. has partnered with Jakks Pacific Inc. to launch a new line of dolls based on Skechers’ popular Twinkle Toes character. The initial launch includes four unique dolls that stand 6.5 inches in height, and are dressed in colorful, fashion-forward outfits and light-up Skechers Twinkle Toes shoes.

LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. will release three new preschool toys—the Number Lovin’ Oven and Scout’s Build & Discover Tool Set, which offer pretend play experiences that teach math and measurement, respectively—and the Word Whammer, a phonics game that prepares children for kindergarten in an active way.

Now available from VTech, Flipsies combine traditional role play with collectible dolls and accessories, as well as VTech’s proprietary MagicPoint interactive technology. The line offers a variety of ways to play and has eight introductory themes that encourage girls to be anything they want to be, whether it’s a doctor, a marine biologist, a teacher, [...]

Merchantwise, ITV Studios Global Entertainment’s appointed licensing agency in Australia, has announced strong toy and DVD sales, as well as a host of new licensing and retail partners, for the TV series Thunderbirds Are Go in Australia.